Umm Dukhum — Clashes between members of the Abbala and Beni Hussein tribes have moved to Central Darfur, where 12 people were killed on Wednesday afternoon, 17 January, witnesses told Radio Dabanga.

The fighting took place at the Seleleh area, located 13 kilometers north of Umm Dukhum city, in Umm Dukhum locality, near the border with West Darfur and Chad. Local sources told Radio Dabanga that two coalition groups supporting Abbala (called Adjinedin) and Beni Hussein (Alabassin) were the ones clashing.

They added that of the 12 people killed, eight belonged to the Abbala coalition and four belonged to the Beni Hussein group.

5.000 Beni Hussein

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that at 10:00pm on Wednesday, Abbala tribesmen entered Umm Dukhum and captured eight Beni Hussein members. Upon entering the town, the Abbala were shooting intensively with their Dushkas and woke up the "frightened" population.

The rumor that more than 5.000 Beni Hussein men were preparing to enter Umm Dukhum to free the eight captives led residents to close the city's market on Thursday morning. The market has not re-opened since.

Some Umm Dukhum inhabitants are reportedly packing their belongings and migrating to areas in neighboring Chad, namely: Rutrut, Gabbar, Keli, Rammaliya and Tumassi.

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